Approaching two years since a man was found fatally gunned down on the side of a Vista road, a second suspect has been arrested, sheriff’s officials said Tuesday.
Kevin Omar Ramirez, 24, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at the San Ysidro Port of Entry on Sunday, Lt. Michael Krugh said in a news release.
The circumstances under which the agents came into contact with Ramirez were not immediately clear, but there was a murder warrant out for his arrest in connection with the death of Oscar Rodriguez, 39.
Just after midnight on Jan. 5, 2023, a passerby called 911 to report seeing a man down alongside West Vista Way west of Emerald Drive, which is a main thoroughfare and frontage road along state Route 78.
Deputies arrived and found Rodriguez, who had been shot to death. Authorities said people in the area had reported hearing what sounded like fireworks prior to deputies pulling up.
In March 2023, more than two months after Rodriguez was killed, sheriff’s deputies arrested Brian Zarate on suspicion of murder. Now 27, Zarate remains jailed without bail and has not had his preliminary hearing.
At the time, sheriff’s officials said it appeared Zarate knew Rodriguez “but the extent of their relationship is unknown.” There was also no known motive and no mention of a second potential suspect.
Ramirez is being held without bail. Jail records indicate he could be arraigned Thursday.
